Siege of Beamfleot

The Siege of Beamfleot occurred in 884 during the Viking invasions of England. A Viking fleet of 19 ships and 500 men under the brothers Erik and Sigefrid Thurgilsson arrived on the River Thames and seized the castle of Beamfleot, which became their base during their invasion of England.

Background
The Viking brothers Sigefrid and Erik Thurgilsson were forced by West Saxon ealdorman Uhtred of Bebbanburg to leave Northumbria on one ship in 880, ending two years of their campaigning in northern England and Scotland. In the three years after their departure, they travelled to Francia and replenished their fleet until it reached 19 ships and 500 raiders. In 884, intending on making their wealth in England once more, they departed from Francia and sailed to Beamfleot on the River Thames.

Siege
The Viking fleet sailed up the Thames, and its soldiers disembarked at Beamfleot. The Vikings, with a large force, charged uphill to assault the castle at Beamfleot, easily overrunning the castle. King Alfred the Great believed that the invaders were loyal to King Guthrum of East Engle, so he sent Father Pyrlig to ask Guthrum to cease the raids. However, the Vikings took advantage of Alfred's lack of counterattack (he intended to keep the peace) by attacking London shortly after.